Quran burning raises fear of violence here, elsewhere

Terry Jones of Dove Outreach Ministries moves about the Lisa Jones House located adjacent to the church Tuesday, July 14, 2009.

Doug Finger/Staff photographer

By Chad SmithStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 11:42 p.m.

As he took the pulpit to deliver his sermon Sunday, Terry Jones acknowledged the potentially violent firestorm that has erupted in response to his church's plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11.

But some posting comments on jihadist websites are not laughing, vowing revenge against his church, the Dove World Outreach Center, which had about 30 attendees at its worship service Sunday.

"Now, I wish to bomb myself in this church as revenge for the sake of Allah's talk," wrote one person who identified himself as Abu Dujanah, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

As area law enforcement form their response, the reporting of Jones' plans has gone international - from Mumbai to Melbourne, with some media outlets, including the Journal, describing Dove World as a Gainesville "mega-church."

While city officials are concerned about the effect on Gainesville's image, they say the more pressing matter is the potential for trouble.

The FBI and state and local law enforcement agencies are monitoring the threats of violence promised if the church follows through with its plans to burn the Muslim holy book, Gainesville Police Department Maj. Rick Hanna said.

"We're on top of this, and we are taking it serious," Hanna said, adding that the Police Department is sharing information with the FBI and that police investigators have interviewed Jones about threats he has received.

On the day Dove World intends to burn the Quran - plans for which the city has denied a permit - thousands of people will be in town for the University of Florida's football game against the University of South Florida.

Hanna said law enforcement will have "all hands on deck."

And while Mayor Craig Lowe and city religious leaders have said they hope to calm the situation by showing the world Gainesville doesn't support Dove World, threats are pouring in.

Evan Kohlmann, who tracks militant websites for the New York-based firm Flashpoint Global Partners, said a suicide bomber has threatened to drive a truck into the church and that others have talked about burning down the building.

"It's hard to tell how serious the discussions are, but they're talking about it," Kohlmann said.

After a Danish newspaper published cartoons in 2005 of the Muslim prophet Muhammad, online discussions eventually turned to violence, he said.

The BBC reported that dozens were killed in violent protests around the world, and in January an ax-wielding intruder was shot by police after he broke into a cartoonist's home.

Jones' plans come amid a national debate about a proposed Islamic center two blocks away from ground zero in Manhattan.

Kohlmann said the anti-Islam rhetoric in the debate over the so-called "ground zero mosque" and Jones' Quran burning is being used as propaganda for al-Qaida and other extremists, and he urged Jones to back off.

"If drawing a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad was enough to generate suicide bombings and an offer by al-Qaida to give money to go assassinate these people, what do you think burning a Quran is going to do?" Kohlmann said. "It may not be in Gainesville. It may not be in Tallahassee. It may not be in Florida. But a price will be a paid for this."

Some backlash already has been felt. A vandal recently threw an unknown object through a sign on the Dove World property, according to the police, and someone posted the word "stupid" above the word "church" on a street sign pointing motorists to Dove World.

John L. Esposito, a professor of religion and the director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, said he isn't sure there will be retaliation here. What he is sure of is that the debate about ground zero and the Quran burning is evidence of America's case of "Islamophobia," which he said was developing before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Esposito, co-author of the book "Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think," said data show the majority of Muslims want better relations with the West and admire many of its democratic principles.

"No one looks at the data," he said. "What's trotted out is isolated actions that are committed."

He also said national media outlets should be more responsible in how they report such incidents as the planned Quran burning by asking how credible people like Jones are.

"The fact is that doesn't make for a headline," Esposito said.

Lowe said some recent media reports - nationally and internationally - have insinuated that Dove World carries more sway in the community than it really does.

On his desk Wednesday the mayor had a copy of a proclamation that will declare Sept. 11 "Interfaith Solidarity Day."

He has been dismayed, he said, at the notoriety his city has received because of a handful of instigators.

"You've, I guess, heard the term the tail wagging the dog," Lowe said. "This is like the flea wagging the dog."

In the spring, Dove World protested against Lowe's mayoral campaign because he is gay, and in June members staged a "no homo mayor" protest at City Hall.

Lowe said he hasn't spoken with Jones, but Cecil Howard, director of the city's Equal Opportunity Office, said he has tried to talk with the church pastor.

Howard said that about a year ago, when the church started posting signs declaring that "Islam is of the Devil," he called to set up an appointment with Jones. Jones never returned the call, Howard said.

Jones also has not returned multiple telephone calls and e-mail messages from The Sun seeking comment.

The mayor said he plans to participate in a number of prayer services that have been scheduled in response to Dove World's plans. Condemnations of Dove World also continue to pour in from across the globe.

On Tuesday, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a Saudi Arabia-based international organization and an observer at the United Nations, expressed "fear that the burning of the Holy Quran, which preaches peace and tolerance and is against killing of innocent lives, would evoke anger across the Muslim world and provoke unrest."

Others, from the Atheists of Florida to the National Association of Evangelicals, have denounced the burning.

The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., which tracks hate groups and domestic terrorists, also has taken note of Dove World.

"We don't list them as a hate group yet," research director Heidi Beirich said. "You better believe that they're going to be on the list next year."

The organization lists 51 hate groups - defined as organizations "that attack or malign an entire class of people" - in Florida, from the Nation of Islam to the Ku Klux Klan.

On Sunday during his sermon, Jones acknowledged that burning copies of the Quran wouldn't be popular but he said it was necessary, comparing himself and his church to Mordecai, who in the Bible refused to bow to government officials and set off a wrathful plot to kill the Jewish people.

Jones expressed his disgust at Trinity United Methodist, the church a few streets away that will host an interfaith prayer service on Sept. 10.

Calling Dan Johnson, Trinity's senior minister, and the church's congregation "lily-livered, yellow-bellied Christians," he said it was unfathomable that a group of Christians would rally with Muslims, Hindus and Jews to speak out against a Christian church.

"Our nation is in ruin spiritually," he said.

But on Sunday, there weren't many to hear his side.

Under a banner declaring "VISION 100..." as a membership goal, Jones bemoaned how few people were in attendance.

<p>As he took the pulpit to deliver his sermon Sunday, Terry Jones acknowledged the potentially violent firestorm that has erupted in response to his church's plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11.</p><p>"Anybody bring a gun to shoot us?" Jones asked, eliciting a smattering of laughs.</p><p>But some posting comments on jihadist websites are not laughing, vowing revenge against his church, the Dove World Outreach Center, which had about 30 attendees at its worship service Sunday.</p><p>"Now, I wish to bomb myself in this church as revenge for the sake of Allah's talk," wrote one person who identified himself as Abu Dujanah, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.</p><p>As area law enforcement form their response, the reporting of Jones' plans has gone international - from Mumbai to Melbourne, with some media outlets, including the Journal, describing Dove World as a Gainesville "mega-church."</p><p>While city officials are concerned about the effect on Gainesville's image, they say the more pressing matter is the potential for trouble.</p><p>The FBI and state and local law enforcement agencies are monitoring the threats of violence promised if the church follows through with its plans to burn the Muslim holy book, Gainesville Police Department Maj. Rick Hanna said.</p><p>"We're on top of this, and we are taking it serious," Hanna said, adding that the Police Department is sharing information with the FBI and that police investigators have interviewed Jones about threats he has received.</p><p>On the day Dove World intends to burn the Quran - plans for which the city has denied a permit - thousands of people will be in town for the University of Florida's football game against the University of South Florida.</p><p>Hanna said law enforcement will have "all hands on deck."</p><p>And while Mayor Craig Lowe and city religious leaders have said they hope to calm the situation by showing the world Gainesville doesn't support Dove World, threats are pouring in.</p><p>Evan Kohlmann, who tracks militant websites for the New York-based firm Flashpoint Global Partners, said a suicide bomber has threatened to drive a truck into the church and that others have talked about burning down the building.</p><p>"It's hard to tell how serious the discussions are, but they're talking about it," Kohlmann said.</p><p>After a Danish newspaper published cartoons in 2005 of the Muslim prophet Muhammad, online discussions eventually turned to violence, he said.</p><p>The BBC reported that dozens were killed in violent protests around the world, and in January an ax-wielding intruder was shot by police after he broke into a cartoonist's home.</p><p>Jones' plans come amid a national debate about a proposed Islamic center two blocks away from ground zero in Manhattan.</p><p>Kohlmann said the anti-Islam rhetoric in the debate over the so-called "ground zero mosque" and Jones' Quran burning is being used as propaganda for al-Qaida and other extremists, and he urged Jones to back off.</p><p>"If drawing a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad was enough to generate suicide bombings and an offer by al-Qaida to give money to go assassinate these people, what do you think burning a Quran is going to do?" Kohlmann said. "It may not be in Gainesville. It may not be in Tallahassee. It may not be in Florida. But a price will be a paid for this."</p><p>Some backlash already has been felt. A vandal recently threw an unknown object through a sign on the Dove World property, according to the police, and someone posted the word "stupid" above the word "church" on a street sign pointing motorists to Dove World.</p><p>John L. Esposito, a professor of religion and the director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, said he isn't sure there will be retaliation here. What he is sure of is that the debate about ground zero and the Quran burning is evidence of America's case of "Islamophobia," which he said was developing before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.</p><p>Esposito, co-author of the book "Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think," said data show the majority of Muslims want better relations with the West and admire many of its democratic principles.</p><p>"No one looks at the data," he said. "What's trotted out is isolated actions that are committed."</p><p>He also said national media outlets should be more responsible in how they report such incidents as the planned Quran burning by asking how credible people like Jones are.</p><p>"The fact is that doesn't make for a headline," Esposito said.</p><p>Lowe said some recent media reports - nationally and internationally - have insinuated that Dove World carries more sway in the community than it really does.</p><p>On his desk Wednesday the mayor had a copy of a proclamation that will declare Sept. 11 "Interfaith Solidarity Day."</p><p>He has been dismayed, he said, at the notoriety his city has received because of a handful of instigators.</p><p>"You've, I guess, heard the term the tail wagging the dog," Lowe said. "This is like the flea wagging the dog."</p><p>In the spring, Dove World protested against Lowe's mayoral campaign because he is gay, and in June members staged a "no homo mayor" protest at City Hall.</p><p>Lowe said he hasn't spoken with Jones, but Cecil Howard, director of the city's Equal Opportunity Office, said he has tried to talk with the church pastor.</p><p>Howard said that about a year ago, when the church started posting signs declaring that "Islam is of the Devil," he called to set up an appointment with Jones. Jones never returned the call, Howard said.</p><p>Jones also has not returned multiple telephone calls and e-mail messages from The Sun seeking comment.</p><p>The mayor said he plans to participate in a number of prayer services that have been scheduled in response to Dove World's plans. Condemnations of Dove World also continue to pour in from across the globe.</p><p>On Tuesday, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a Saudi Arabia-based international organization and an observer at the United Nations, expressed "fear that the burning of the Holy Quran, which preaches peace and tolerance and is against killing of innocent lives, would evoke anger across the Muslim world and provoke unrest."</p><p>Others, from the Atheists of Florida to the National Association of Evangelicals, have denounced the burning.</p><p>The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., which tracks hate groups and domestic terrorists, also has taken note of Dove World.</p><p>"We don't list them as a hate group yet," research director Heidi Beirich said. "You better believe that they're going to be on the list next year."</p><p>The organization lists 51 hate groups - defined as organizations "that attack or malign an entire class of people" - in Florida, from the Nation of Islam to the Ku Klux Klan.</p><p>On Sunday during his sermon, Jones acknowledged that burning copies of the Quran wouldn't be popular but he said it was necessary, comparing himself and his church to Mordecai, who in the Bible refused to bow to government officials and set off a wrathful plot to kill the Jewish people.</p><p>Jones expressed his disgust at Trinity United Methodist, the church a few streets away that will host an interfaith prayer service on Sept. 10.</p><p>Calling Dan Johnson, Trinity's senior minister, and the church's congregation "lily-livered, yellow-bellied Christians," he said it was unfathomable that a group of Christians would rally with Muslims, Hindus and Jews to speak out against a Christian church.</p><p>"Our nation is in ruin spiritually," he said.</p><p>But on Sunday, there weren't many to hear his side.</p><p>Under a banner declaring "VISION 100..." as a membership goal, Jones bemoaned how few people were in attendance.</p><p>"This is a disgrace," he said.</p><p>"This is humbling. I don't deserve this."</p><p>Contact Chad Smith at 338-3104 or chad.smith@gvillesun.com.</p>